Wallabies want Indigenous jersey at World Cup but there's a catch
A toin coss will determine whether the Wallabies play a historic first World Cup match in the Indigenous jersey next year.
Test playmaker Kurtley Beale ventured the idea on Wednesday of having the new but hugely popular Indigenous jersey in the Wallabies' "back pocket" as a power play of sorts at the tournament in Japan.
The playing group felt it gave them an extra edge in its first outing, a 23-18 win over New Zealand at Suncorp Stadium last year.
But a quirk of World Cup protocols and regulations means there is no guarantee the players will be able to wear it in the match of their choosing.
As things stood for the 2015 World Cup, a coin toss held before every match determined which nation had the power to pick their playing strip.
Assuming nothing changes in the fine print for the 2019 event, the Wallabies will have to secure agreement from the Rugby Australia board and executive to make the Indigenous jersey their alternate strip and then win the toin coss ahead of the match they have in mind in order to play in it.
The complication is not likely to put off the playing group which, Beale says, is almost universally supportive of wearing the Indigenous jersey more often.
Its next outing will be in England next month, when Australia meet their old foes (and an old Wallabies coach, Eddie Jones) at Twickenham on November 24.
But Beale added his voice to Will Genia's recent call for the Wallabies to wear the strip more often, saying the jersey brought the playing group together and could be a valuable weapon at the World Cup.
"I think it would be great to be able to wear this jersey throughout the year. I know there's full support from the playing squad and just the fans in general would love to see another strip out there, that recognises our First Nations culture," he said.
"It would be nice to wear it at the World Cup one day. Maybe that's something we could talk about in the future. You have two playing strips in the World Cup. To be able to have the jersey in the back pocket just for a big game ... I know that it can galvanise the group.
"I certainly felt that last year but I think it's a special jersey to be able to wear and I know a lot of the playing group are fully behind it and support it and would love to continue such a special thing."
The Dennis Golding-designed jersey is already a fan and team favourite, selling out its first run last year and selling well this year.
RA decided to use it at Twickenham this year after choosing between that Test or the third Bledisloe Cup Test in Japan next week.
Early discussions around its use suggested it would be used for Tests on home soil but the jersey's talismanic power - not to mention its commercial potential - made either Japan or England fitting venues in the eyes of RA and the Wallabies.
"It's going to be an awesome opportunity to wear such a special jersey that not only represents Indigenous Australia but all of Australia, overseas, at such a special stadium," Beale said of the final choice.
"It's going to be an exciting time and hopefully we'll be able to finish off the [tour] with another special win."
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